The Mosby Building Arts design team share their thoughts on emerging St. Louis kitchen trends, based on the remodeling projects they’ve recently completed and what their clients are asking for in 2016.

jake technology

JAKE SPURGEON

I’m getting more requests for technology and environment control in the kitchen. How to deal with artfully placing flat-panel TV screens (tucked in a cabinet above the refrigerator in the kitchen above), Wi-Fi routers and charging stations is increasingly top-of-mind. And controls for lighting and sound throughout the entire home are being placed in the kitchen, making it command central.

Also, creating a desk or work space in the kitchen is making a big comeback. Families need a dedicated place for working on laptops or tablets, and they want them in the heart of all the activity that is the modern kitchen.

jake rustic

As for the look of St. Louis kitchens, gray remains a popular accent color for cabinet finishes or wall colors. I also see rustic touches like wood panel ceilings or beams (shown above), or butcher block countertops with a ready-made patina. It’s as if we want to balance all the modern technology with an old world, organic feel.

karen kitchen seating

KAREN BRUNS

St. Louis homeowners want more seating flexibility in their kitchens. Along with classic dining table height, they want bar-height seating, which is easy to incorporate into an island. Or they long for a more intimate situation like banquet seating, where they can comfortably linger for long periods of time. The kitchen shown above is a good example of two different seating options in one kitchen.

laura lighting

LAURA POWDERLY

With our clients, I’m picking up on a bigger focus on lighting in the kitchen, particularly over-sized lighting over the island (shown above). In addition to having more light to work in, it creates a focal point for the kitchen.

jillian pantone 2016 colors

JILLIAN BRINKMAN

I love Pantone’s two colors for 2016; they’re very inspiring, so airy and happy. I can see them being requested as accent colors – like the backsplashes shown above – in St. Louis kitchens.

jillian textured backsplash

There’s a definite trend toward textured backsplashes, like this wall of neutral stone tiles we recently installed in a St. Peters kitchen (above). Even ceramic and glass tile manufacturers are adding textures to their shiny surfaces, which adds a new layer of personality to the kitchen.

jill no microwave

JILL WOROBEC

We have recently designed a few kitchens that have every appliance except a microwave, like the kitchen above. Some homeowners find that steam or high-speed ovens are preferable to a microwave.

An East and West Coast trend we may start seeing in St. Louis is constructing two kitchens side by side. One is for heavy-duty use, the other is for show. They have traditionally been known as Summer Kitchens or Spice Kitchens. Learn more about it here.

becky simple backsplash

 BECKY TRENT

I’m seeing a trend to a more simplified tile pattern or layout in kitchen backsplashes. The kitchen above is a great example of textured glass tile installed vertically, which creates minimal lines and creates a calm feeling.

We’re also moving away from the trend of hiding appliances behind integrated cabinet panels. Clients are choosing appliances that look really good and want to show them off.

Are there any of these trends you’d like to incorporate into your own kitchen? Have the Mosby design team help you with your 2016 kitchen remodel by calling the Mosby office at 314.909.1800 or contact them here.